Karyological studies on Spanish Boraginaceae. VI. Contribution to the tribe Eritrichieae

LUQUE, T., 1992. Karyological studies on Spanish Boraginaceae. VI. Contribution to the tribe Eritrichieae. Karyological information is presented for c. 15 taxa of the genera Asperugo L., Rochelia Reichenb., Myosotis L. and Lappula Gilib. This paper is the first in this series of karyological studies of Spanish Boraginaceae to deal with Eritrichieae.     

RESEARCH OF SELECTIVE TESTS FOR DISCERNING "AN EFFICIENT ASSESSOR" IN TEXTURE PROFILING

To find selective and predictive tests in texture profiling, a series of 20 tests and 2 texture profiles were submitted to 25 subjects. Selection was carried out according to ranking, scoring and a texture property knowledge questionnaire. Two profiles were then done on 5 Bolognese sauce and 8 rice samples. Assessors were assessed by Spearman correlation coefficients for ranking tests, F values for scoring, average square canonical correlation coefficients for measuring the dimensionality of individual sample space, product discrimination and response repeatability for both Bolognese sauce and rice samples.
Characterization test results showed that subject ability varied widely according to the test and the profile. Only one significant relationship between the texture property knowledge test and rice profile performances was found. More tests were successfully related to one or several texture attributes of both profiles. The ability to complete a complex profile could be discerned, albeit with difficulty, through simple selection tests.     

Analysis of forestry impacts and biodiversity in two Pyrenean forests through a comparison of moth communities （Lepidoptera, Heterocera）

We have compared the biodiversity variations in moth communities between unmanaged forests and commercial forests in a mountainous environment （Pyrenees France）. The aim was to evaluate the impact of forestry activities on moth diversity. The data collected from the insects were analysed with a Bayesian specific similarity index （noted SSP index） and by statistical biodiversity indexes comparison. It was seen that diversity and richness were decreased in the plantation compared to the unmanaged forest. Interestingly, the composition of the communities of moths was shown to be not only related to the presence/absence of host plants, but also to be in relation with changes in the differences in forest architecture （i.e. the relative coverage by the different vegetation levels）. However, the moth community in the commercial forest still has a high capacity to converge with the moth community present in more natural forests. We report here a list of 177 species of moths, providing information on the distribution of some uncommon species, poorly studied as yet in the Pyrenees.     

High European sauropod dinosaur diversity during Jurassic–Cretaceous transition in Riodeva (Teruel, Spain)

Abstract:  Up to now, more than 40 dinosaur sites have been found in the latest Jurassic – earliest Cretaceous sedimentary outcrops (Villar del Arzobispo Formation) of Riodeva (Iberian Range, Spain). Those already excavated, as well as other findings, provide a large and diverse number of sauropod remains, suggesting a great diversity for this group in the Iberian Peninsula during this time. Vertebrae and ischial remains from Riodevan site RD-13 are assigned to Turiasaurus riodevensis (a species described in RD-10, Barrihonda site), which is part of the Turiasauria clade. This is the first time that a taxon is attributed to Turiasaurus genus out of its type site. A Neosauropod caudal vertebra from the RD-11 site has been classified as Diplodocinae indet., supporting the previous attribution on an ilion also found in Riodeva (CPT-1074) referring to the Diplodocidae clade. New remains from the RD-28, RD-41 and RD-43 sites, of the same age, among which there are caudal vertebrae, are assigned to Macronaria. New sauropod footprints from the Villar del Arzobispo Formation complete the extraordinary sauropod record coming to light in the area. The inclusion of other sauropods from different contemporaneous exposures in Teruel within the Turiasauria clade adds new evidence of a great diversity of sauropods in Iberia during the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition. Turiasauria distribution contributes to the understanding of European and global palaeobiogeography.     

Origin of caulinary ant domatia and timing of their onset in plant ontogeny: evolution of a key trait in horizontally transmitted ant-plant symbioses

Many ant plants possess caulinary domatia, hollow and usually swollen stems. What are the evolutionary origins of this key trait of ant‐plant symbioses? In a single lineage, myrmecophytes often differ in the timing of the first appearance of domatia. What processes have led to diversification in the timing of expression of domatia in ontogeny? We suggest that an approach based on the analysis of leaf‐ stem size correlations, that appear general in trees, can supply answers to both these questions. Traits associated with increased primary diameter of twigs may have facilitated the evolution of domatia. Among lineages, differences in stem diameter may help to explain why domatia appeared in some, and not in others. Within species, because twig primary diameter increases over plant ontogeny, initially ants may have colonized only plants at later stages of development, whose twigs had reached a minimum size. We thus postulate that expression of domatia later in development is the primitive condition in lineages with domatia, and that increasing specialization of ants and plants enhanced both the probability of establishment and ant protection, favouring precocity of onset of domatia and other myrmccophytic characters. In the language of heterochrony, these characters are affected by prc‐displacement.     

Molecular and morphological evidence for hybridization between endemic Canary Island Convolvulus

Morphological data and molecular data from the chloroplast trn H- psb A region and nuclear ribosomal ITS region are used to test the hypothesis that the problematic Canary Island endemic Convolvulus floridus var. virgatus is a hybrid between the endemic species C. floridus and C. scoparius . Analysis of mean leaf length and width of 58 individuals indicates that accessions referable to C. floridus var. virgatus are intermediate between the parental taxa in leaf dimensions. Direct sequencing of the ITS region of C. scoparius and C. floridus revealed two species-specific ribotypes distinguished by 10 base differences. Examination of ITS chromatograms for putative hybrids revealed polymorphisms at those sites that are diagnostic between species in all except one putative hybrid. Morphological intermediacy and ITS additivity therefore support the hybrid status of C. floridus var. virgatus . An analysis of intraindividual ITS variation confirmed the co-occurrence of both parental ribotypes in putative hybrids and demonstrated that some hybrid individuals contained chimaeric ITS types. It is proposed that chimaeric ITS types are the result of recombination following backcrossing. Sequencing of the trn H- psb A region revealed four haplotypes. Three were, for the most part, confined to C. floridus and putative hybrids although one C. scoparius accession was also found to share this haplotype. The remaining haploype was only found in C. scoparius and putative hybrid accessions. Patterns of haplotype distribution between parental and hybrid accessions suggest multiple, bidirectional hybridization events between C. floridus and C. scoparius . The nomenclature of the hybrid is discussed and the necessary new name C.  ×  despreauxii is proposed.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 187–204.     

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GENUS AEGIRES LOVEN, 1844 (OPISTHOBRANCHIA: DORIDOIDEA: AEGIRETIDAE) IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES

New information on Aegires ortizi Templado, Luque & Ortea,1987 is given, and two new species of the genus Aegires aredescribed, one from the Caribbean and one from the MediterraneanSea. A key to the North Atlantic species of Aegires is given. (Received 10 February 1989; accepted 11 July 1989)     

Ant community structure under Retama sphaerocarpa shrubs in a semi‐arid environment

The Tabernas Desert (Spain) is an emblematic area as it constitutes, strictly speaking, the only European desert. Under the canopy of one of the dominant shrub species, Retama sphaerocarpa, there are different microhabitat conditions that encourage the growing of a dense understory of herbs (fertile islands). However, these changes may not be enough to be also reflected in the fauna. Studying ants as bioindicators, we found higher densities of individuals and species richness below the canopy than outside it. However, while the density of individuals increased from outside the canopy to the inner position under the shrubs, species richness increased from the inner to the border position under the canopy and abruptly decreased outside it. This is because the inner positions were usually monopolized by dominant ants with populous nests that feed on aphid honeydew, such as Monomorium subopacum or Tapinoma nigerrimum. Granivorous species (genus Messor) were usually found in intermediate positions under the canopy, taking advantage of the better microclimatic conditions but close to the grass for feeding. Among the most abundant species, the only one found mainly outside the influence of the retama shrubs was the thermophilic insectivorous Cataglyphis ibericus.